Apparatus, system and method of appending a group of files to files on a clipboard of a desktop

ABSTRACT

A system, apparatus and method of appending a group of files to files on a clipboard of a desktop are provided. The system, apparatus and method include displaying a first window having an option that allows a group of files to be appended to files on the clipboard and asserting the option to append the files. The first window is ordinarily displayed after at least one file has been copied onto the clipboard and a second file is selected to be copied. In the case where at least one file has not already been copied onto the clipboard, a second window is displayed. The second window has an option that allows only one file or group of files to be copied onto the clipboard. The first window further contains an option that allows a file or a group of files to replace file or files already copied on the clipboard.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present invention is related to the following U.S. PatentApplication which is incorporated by reference.

[0002] Ser. No. 10/159,509, filed May 30, 2002, entitled, DATA PROCESSORCONTROLLED DISPLAY SYSTEM WITH DRAG AND DROP MOVEMENT OF DISPLACED ITEMSFROM SOURCE TO DESTINATION SCREEN POSIITONS AND INTERACTIVE MODIFICATIONOF DRAGGED ITEMS DURING THE MOVEMENT.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Technical Field

[0004] The present invention is directed to desktops. More particularly,the invention is directed to an apparatus, system and method ofappending a group of files to files on a clipboard of a desktop.

[0005] 2. Description of Related Art

[0006] Most desktops allow a user to remove or copy a file or a group offiles from a directory or folder. To remove the file or group of filesfrom the folder is generally referred to as “cut” or “delete” whereas tocopy the file or group of files is referred to as “copy”. To transferthe copied file or group of files to another folder is referred to as“paste”.

[0007] When the file or group of files is copied, it is ordinarilytransferred to a temporary buffer called a clipboard. This allows theuser to later paste the file or group of files in other folders. Notethat copying files will henceforth be referred to as copying the filesonto the clipboard or plainly “copy”.

[0008] In the past, when two file copy operations were made insuccession, the selected file or group of files from the first copyoperation was replaced with the selected file or group of files from thesecond copy operation. Thus, if a user desired to add a file or a groupof files to a file or files that had been copied onto the clipboard, theuser had to select all the files (including the ones already on theclipboard) in order to copy them on the clipboard. Clearly, depending onthe location of the files, this could be a rather time-consumingendeavor.

[0009] Consequently, there is a need for an apparatus, system and methodof appending a group of files to files on a clipboard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method ofappending a group of files to files on a clipboard of a desktop. Thesystem, apparatus and method include displaying a first window having anoption that allows a group of files to be appended to files on theclipboard and asserting the option to append the files. The first windowis ordinarily displayed after at least one file has been copied onto theclipboard and a second file is selected to be copied. In the case whereat least one file has not already been copied onto the clipboard, asecond window is displayed. The second window has an option that allowsonly one file or group of files to be copied onto the clipboard. Thefirst window further contains an option that allows a file or a group offiles to replace file or files already copied on the clipboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The novel features believed characteristic of the invention areset forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as wellas a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof,will best be understood by reference to the following detaileddescription of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0012]FIG. 1 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating a distributeddata processing system according to the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram of a server apparatusaccording to the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram of a client apparatusaccording to the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 4 depicts a pop-up window having an option that allows a userto copy files onto a clipboard.

[0016]FIG. 5 depicts another pop-up window having an option that allowsa user to append files to files on a clipboard.

[0017]FIG. 6 depicts a pop-up window that allows a user to paste filesin a folder.

[0018]FIG. 7 is flow diagram of a process used by the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] With reference now to the figures, FIG. 1 depicts a pictorialrepresentation of a network of data processing systems in which thepresent invention may be implemented. Network data processing system 100is a network of computers in which the present invention may beimplemented. Network data processing system 100 contains a network 102,which is the medium used to provide communications links between variousdevices and computers connected together within network data processingsystem 100. Network 102 may include connections, such as wire, wirelesscommunication links, or fiber optic cables.

[0020] In the depicted example, server 104 is connected to network 102along with storage unit 106. In addition, clients 108, 110, and 112 areconnected to network 102. These clients 108, 110, and 112 may be, forexample, personal computers or network computers. In the depictedexample, server 104 provides data, such as boot files, operating systemimages, and applications to clients 108, 110 and 112. Clients 108, 110and 112 are clients to server 104. Network data processing system 100may include additional servers, clients, and other devices not shown. Inthe depicted example, network data processing system 100 is the Internetwith network 102 representing a worldwide collection of networks andgateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols to communicate with oneanother. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of high-speed datacommunication lines between major nodes or host computers, consisting ofthousands of commercial, government, educational and other computersystems that route data and messages. Of course, network data processingsystem 100 also may be implemented as a number of different types ofnetworks, such as for example, an intranet, a local area network (LAN),or a wide area network (WAN). FIG. 1 is intended as an example, and notas an architectural limitation for the present invention.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a data processing systemthat may be implemented as a server, such as server 104 in FIG. 1, isdepicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. Data processing system 200 may be a symmetric multiprocessor(SMP) system including a plurality of processors 202 and 204 connectedto system bus 206. Alternatively, a single processor system may beemployed. Also connected to system bus 206 is memory controller/cache208, which provides an interface to local memory 209. I/O bus bridge 210is connected to system bus 206 and provides an interface to I/O bus 212.Memory controller/cache 208 and I/O bus bridge 210 may be integrated asdepicted.

[0022] Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus bridge 214 connectedto I/O bus 212 provides an interface to PCI local bus 216. A number ofmodems may be connected to PCI local bus 216. Typical PCI busimplementations will support four PCI expansion slots or add-inconnectors. Communications links to network computers 108, 110 and 112in FIG. 1 may be provided through modem 218 and network adapter 220connected to PCI local bus 216 through add-in boards.

[0023] Additional PCI bus bridges 222 and 224 provide interfaces foradditional PCI local buses 226 and 228, from which additional modems ornetwork adapters may be supported. In this manner, data processingsystem 200 allows connections to multiple network computers. Amemory-mapped graphics adapter 230 and hard disk 232 may also beconnected to I/O bus 212 as depicted, either directly or indirectly.

[0024] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that thehardware depicted in FIG. 2 may vary. For example, other peripheraldevices, such as optical disk drives and the like, also may be used inaddition to or in place of the hardware depicted. The depicted exampleis not meant to imply architectural limitations with respect to thepresent invention.

[0025] The data processing system depicted in FIG. 2 may be, forexample, an IBM e-Server pSeries system, a product of InternationalBusiness Machines Corporation in Armonk, N.Y., running the AdvancedInteractive Executive (AIX) operating system or LINUX operating system.

[0026] With reference now to FIG. 3, a block diagram illustrating a dataprocessing system is depicted in which the present invention may beimplemented. Data processing system 300 is an example of a clientcomputer. Data processing system 300 employs a peripheral componentinterconnect (PCI) local bus architecture. Although the depicted exampleemploys a PCI bus, other bus architectures such as Accelerated GraphicsPort (AGP) and Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) may be used.Processor 302 and main memory 304 are connected to PCI local bus 306through PCI bridge 308. PCI bridge 308 also may include an integratedmemory controller and cache memory for processor 302. Additionalconnections to PCI local bus 306 may be made through direct componentinterconnection or through add-in boards. In the depicted example, localarea network (LAN) adapter 310, SCSI host bus adapter 312, and expansionbus interface 314 are connected to PCI local bus 306 by direct componentconnection. In contrast, audio adapter 316, graphics adapter 318, andaudio/video adapter 319 are connected to PCI local bus 306 by add-inboards inserted into expansion slots. Expansion bus interface 314provides a connection for a keyboard and mouse adapter 320, modem 322,and additional memory 324. Small computer system interface (SCSI) hostbus adapter 312 provides a connection for hard disk drive 326, tapedrive 328, and CD-ROM drive 330. Typical PCI local bus implementationswill support three or four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors.

[0027] An operating system runs on processor 302 and is used tocoordinate and provide control of various components within dataprocessing system 300 in FIG. 3. The operating system may be acommercially available operating system, such as Windows XP, which isavailable from Microsoft Corporation. An object oriented programmingsystem such as Java may run in conjunction with the operating system andprovide calls to the operating system from Java programs or applicationsexecuting on data processing system 300. “Java” is a trademark of SunMicrosystems, Inc. Instructions for the operating system, theobject-oriented operating system, and applications or programs arelocated on storage devices, such as hard disk drive 326, and may beloaded into main memory 304 for execution by processor 302.

[0028] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that thehardware in FIG. 3 may vary depending on the implementation. Otherinternal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash ROM (orequivalent nonvolatile memory) or optical disk drives and the like, maybe used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in FIG. 3.Also, the processes of the present invention may be applied to amultiprocessor data processing system.

[0029] As another example, data processing system 300 may be astand-alone system configured to be bootable without relying on sometype of network communication interface, whether or not data processingsystem 300 comprises some type of network communication interface. As afurther example, data processing system 300 may be a Personal DigitalAssistant (PDA) device, which is configured with ROM and/or flash ROM inorder to provide non-volatile memory for storing operating system filesand/or user-generated data.

[0030] The depicted example in FIG. 3 and above-described examples arenot meant to imply architectural limitations. For example, dataprocessing system 300 may also be a notebook computer or hand heldcomputer in addition to taking the form of a PDA. Data processing system300 also may be a kiosk or a Web appliance.

[0031] The present invention provides an apparatus, system and method ofappending a file or a group of files to files on a clipboard. Theinvention may be local to client systems 108, 110 and 112 of FIG. 1 orto the server 104 or to both the server 104 and clients 108, 110 and 112and may reside on any data storage medium (i.e., floppy disk, compactdisk, hard disk, ROM, RAM, etc.) used by a computer system.

[0032] The present invention will be explained using Microsoft® WindowsXP. When a user puts the mouse pointer on a file or select a pluralityof files and depresses the right button of the mouse a window pops openindicating a plurality of options available to the user. FIG. 4 depictsthe plurality of options that may be made available to the user. (Notethat in the figure only the items that are pertinent to the inventionare given a reference numeral.) If the user selects cut 405, the file orfiles will be deleted from the folder within which it is located. If theuser selects copy, the file or files will be copied onto the clipboard.

[0033]FIG. 5 depicts a pop-up window that may be used by the presentinvention. When a file or a group of files has previously been copiedonto the clipboard and the user positions the mouse pointer on any fileor selects another group of files and depresses the right button of themouse, FIG. 5 will pop open. As before, only the items that are ofimportance to the invention are given a reference numeral. Cut 505 andcopy 510 perform the same function as cut 405 and copy 410.Specifically, if cut 510 is chosen, the selected file or group of fileswill replace the file previously copied on the clipboard. However, whencopy append 515 is chosen, the selected file or group of files will beappended to the previous file or files on the clipboard. When the userdesires, the files may be pasted in a folder.

[0034] Note that any number of files or group of files may be appendedto each other on the clipboard so long as the user continues to choosecopy append 515 instead of copy 510. In any case, to paste the files,the user needs to right click on the mouse while the mouse pointer isnot on a file. When this occurs, FIG. 6 will pop open. By left clickingon paste 605, the files will be pasted into an open folder.

[0035]FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a process that may be used by theinvention. The process starts when a user decides to copy a file or agroup of files on the clipboard (step 700). Then, a check is made todetermine whether at least one file has already been copied onto theclipboard. If so, FIG. 5 will pop open given the user the option toeither choose copy 510 or copy append 515. If copy append is chosen, theselected file or files will be appended to the files or files already onthe clipboard and the process will return to step 705 (steps 705, 710,715 and 720). If copy 510 is chosen, then the selected file or fileswill replace all files already copied onto the clipboard and the processwill return to step 705 (steps 705, 710, 715, 725 and 730).

[0036] If at least one file has not already been copied onto theclipboard, then FIG. 4 will pop open. At that point, the user may copythe selected file onto the clipboard as customary and the process willreturn to step 705 (steps 705, 735, 725 and 730).

[0037] The description of the present invention has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to beexhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the invention, the practical application, andto enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand theinvention for various embodiments with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of appending a group of files to fileson a clipboard of a desktop comprising the steps of: displaying a firstwindow having an option, the option allowing a group of files to beappended to files on the clipboard; and asserting the option to appendthe group of files to files on the clipboard.
 2. The method of claim 1wherein the first window is displayed after at least one file has beencopied onto the clipboard and a second file or group of files isselected to be copied.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein if at least afirst file has not already been copied onto the clipboard, a secondwindow is displayed having an option allowing one file or group of filesto be copied onto the clipboard.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein thefirst window includes an option allowing a file or group of files toreplace file or files already copied on the clipboard.
 5. The method ofclaim 4 wherein when more than one file is copied on the clipboard, themore than one file may be pasted using one paste operation.
 6. Acomputer program product on a computer readable medium for appending agroup of files to files on a clipboard of a desktop comprising: codemeans for displaying a first window having an option, the optionallowing a group of files to be appended to files on the clipboard; andcode means for asserting the option to append the group of files tofiles on the clipboard.
 7. The computer program product of claim 6wherein the first window is displayed after at least one file has beencopied onto the clipboard and a second file or group of files isselected to be copied.
 8. The computer program product of claim 7wherein if at least one first file has not already been copied onto theclipboard, a second window is displayed having an option allowing onefile or group of files to be copied.
 9. The computer program product ofclaim 8 wherein the first window includes an option allowing a file orgroup of files to replace file or files already copied on the clipboard.10. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein when more than onefile is copied on the clipboard, the more than one file may be pastedusing one paste operation.
 11. An apparatus for appending a group offiles to files on a clipboard of a desktop comprising: means fordisplaying a first window having an option, the option allowing a groupof files to be appended to files on the clipboard; and means forasserting the option to append the group of files to files on theclipboard.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first window isdisplayed after at least one file has been copied onto the clipboard anda second file or group of files is selected to be copied.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12 wherein if at least one file has not already beencopied onto the clipboard, a second window is displayed having an optionallowing one file or group of files to be copied.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 13 wherein the first window includes an option allowing a file orgroup of files to replace file or files already copied on the clipboard.15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein when more than one file is copiedon the clipboard, the more than one file may be pasted using one pasteoperation.
 16. A computer system for appending a group of files to fileson a clipboard of a desktop comprising: at least one storage device forstoring code data; and at least one processor for processing the codedata to display a first window having an option, the option allowing agroup of files to be appended to files on the clipboard, and assert theoption to append the group of files to files on the clipboard.
 17. Thecomputer system of claim 16 wherein the first window is displayed afterat least one file has been copied onto the clipboard and a second fileor group of files is selected to be copied.
 18. The computer system ofclaim 17 wherein if at least one file has not already been copied ontothe clipboard, a second window is displayed having an option allowingone file or group of files to be copied onto the clipboard.
 19. Thecomputer system of claim 18 wherein the first window includes an optionallowing a file or group of files to replace file or files alreadycopied on the clipboard.
 20. The computer system of claim 19 whereinwhen more than one file is copied on the clipboard, the more than onefile may be pasted using one paste operation.